VIRUS AND INTRODUCTION:

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Like all viruses, HIV cannot grow or reproduce on its own. In order to make new copies of itself it must infect the cells of a living organism.

HIV belongs to a special class of viruses called retroviruses. Within this class, HIV is placed in the subgroup of lenti viruses. Other lenti viruses include SIV, FIV, Visna and CAEV, which cause diseases in monkeys, cats, sheep and goats.